The Iowa Board of Nursing approves nursing programs which have a physical presence in Iowa. The board has the authority to regulate pre and post licensure programs. You may find the list of Iowa approved nursing programs on our web site, www.nursing.iowa.gov, click on Nursing Education and then click on Nursing Education Programs Approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Pursuant to 655 Iowa Administrative Code, Chapter 2, Section 2.3 (152), nursing programs are given full approval for a period up to 6 years.

The Iowa Board of Nursing does not approve Out-of-State nursing programs. If you are considering applying to an Out-of-State program please contact the state board of nursing in which the educational institution resides in.

The Iowa Board of Nursing will accept an Out-of-State program for initial licensure, endorsement from another state and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner registration, if it is considered an approved program.

Below is a list of questions to ask nursing programs you are considering attending and the state board of nursing in which the program resides:

1. What agency regulates the program?

2. What type of approval process is required for the program to be considered approved?

3. What type of accreditation does the program have?

4. Does the program have accreditation from a National Nursing Accreditation Agency, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)? You may access these web sites to validate accreditation of a specific program.

It is important to note that not all state boards of nursing approve or regulate post-licensure nursing programs; therefore, identify what agency does regulate and /or grant accreditation to the program.